AFC Wimbledon 3 - 1 Bognor Regis Town

The Dons eventually saw off Bognor’s limited challenge to make it three wins out of three for the South West Londoners. Tony Finn opened the scoring on 24 minutes crashing in a volley from 20 yards. Midfielder Simon Jackson equalised for the Rocks seconds before the interval. Dons supporters then had to endure an irritating second half, until the 88th minute when Jon Main put them ahead once more. Young forward Dean Mason eased the tension and applied some extra gloss to the result with a stoppage time third.

AFC Wimbledon manager Terry Brown made one change to his starting line-up bringing the more attacking Sam Hatton in for Jake Leberl and sitting Kennedy Adjie a little deeper in midfield. Mick Jenkins made no changes to the Bognor line-up that grabbed a goalless midweek draw with Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Chances were at a premium for 20 minutes with the teams exchanging one free-kick attempt each. Sam Hatton shanked his effort wide for the Dons. Duncan Jupp got his attempt on target but hit it straight at keeper Andy Little.

The major talking point of the first period was whether Dons’ striker Jon Main should have been awarded a penalty. It appeared he had been clattered after beating Rocks’ keeper Behcet to the ball, but the referee deemed Main had taken a dive and promptly booked him.

Just as a few fans’ frustrations were coming to the boil, the home side went in front. Tony Finn picked up the pieces of a half-cleared corner, heading out to Elliott Godfrey on the left hand touchline. The ex-Hampton midfielder centred, it was half-cleared to Finn once more and this time the mercurial attacker cut out the middle man and volleyed it back with interest into the top left hand corner.

It sparked the hosts into life. Tom Davis nearly doubled their advantage, forcing a fine stop from the keeper, after the former Lewes man had ran the length of the pitch to get on Main’s cross. Moments later, Hatton should have done better in front of goal following good approach work from Finn and Alan Inns.

On the stroke of half time the visitors equalised. Finn failed to track Paul Watson down the left and the full back’s cross was met with a bullet header from Jackson.

As the second half unfolded it became all too clear that Bognor had settled for a point. Brown’s side pressed forward seeking a winner. Judge, Hatton and Davis all had half chances to put the Dons back in front but to no avail so the Dons chief introduced Dean Mason and Chris Hussey to proceedings, as he had done in the Thurrock fixture.

Hussey was soon asking questions of the visiting backline whipping a dangerous ball into the box that Main saw late and glanced over the bar. The young left back then released Finn who in turn played Main into the box but another opportunity went begging.

Bognor would rue their lack of ambition on 88 minutes when they gifted the deadly marksman one chance too many. Finn’s trickery on the edge of the box culminated in a delightful ball behind the defence and Main raced in and buried it.

The Rocks simply couldn’t raise their leaden tempo which in truth had largely consisted of wasting time and play-acting during the second half. Committing numbers forward in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the game they were undone by a stoppage time sucker punch. Mason played a neat one two off Godfrey and he finished the job from 15 yards maintaining the Dons’ perfect start to their campaign.

Thanks for another good article- missed this game so I love this detailed report. Once again two late goals for the dons. I wonder if our fitness levels are generally higher than our opposition's? Suprised Hussey didn't start after his contribution last week. Seems to have made a difference again when brought on. Haswell is solid but I'd like to see Hussey get a start soon.Has anyone else in our league won their first three btw?

On your point about the late goals: you're right, our fitness levels are good, no question.

But for me there has also been a great deal of patience on and off the park, which has allowed the team to plug away and play their football.

Last season I reckon we'd have drawn this fixture. The Ryman side was prone to 'panic' when we needed a goal, which often resulted in poor decisions making and a lot of wasted possession. Subsequently, the crowd would get restless and the playing style would get longer and more aimless.

This season Terry Brown set his stall out early. He encourages his players to stay with the passing game regardless of the circumstances and the fans have responded well, appearing happier to accept that occasionally we may lose a few points as a consequence, but at least we won't resort to 'hoofball'.